Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh Softball Opens Game Week By Announcing Team Captains
2/22/2021 3:54:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the 2021 season set to begin on Sunday, Lehigh head coach Fran Troyan has announced that senior Payton Alsobrooks and juniors Carley Barjaktarovich and Karsen O'Rourke will serve as team captains for the 2021 campaign.
"Payton, Carley and Karsen were selected by their teammates and have done a phenomenal job getting the team prepared," Troyan said. "They've helped keep the team in a tremendous spot mentally and emotionally, setting the tone for the whole team. Adversity tests leadership, and these three individuals have answered the call. They have taken the culture that was developed by last year's graduating class, and significant added value to it."
Alsobrooks has held down third base for the Mountain Hawks over the last two-plus seasons. She had eight hits in 13 games in the abbreviated 2020 campaign with four of the eight going for extra bases. Alsobrooks scored five runs and drove in five last season as well. She started 52 games in 2019 and is a career .254 hitter with 30 RBIs and 32 runs scored in 99 games.
Barjaktarovich has started at shortstop in all 72 of Lehigh's games over the last two seasons. Last year she led the Mountain Hawks with a .352 average in 17 games with a team-best 19 hits and two stolen bases. Barjaktarovich hit .307 in 55 games as a freshman in 2019 with 50 hits, 21 runs scored, 18 RBIs and 13 steals.
O'Rourke is a versatile player who made starts at third base and all three outfield positions last season and is expected to be in the mix at second base in 2021. She went 7-for-28 at the plate last season with a pair of doubles and five runs scored. O'Rourke appeared in 49 games as a freshman, registering 15 hits, 13 runs scored and five RBIs. She has started games at five different positions in her Lehigh career.
The Mountain Hawks are scheduled to open the 2021 season on Sunday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Sacred Heart for a doubleheader with game one set to begin at 11 a.m.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
"Payton, Carley and Karsen were selected by their teammates and have done a phenomenal job getting the team prepared," Troyan said. "They've helped keep the team in a tremendous spot mentally and emotionally, setting the tone for the whole team. Adversity tests leadership, and these three individuals have answered the call. They have taken the culture that was developed by last year's graduating class, and significant added value to it."
Alsobrooks has held down third base for the Mountain Hawks over the last two-plus seasons. She had eight hits in 13 games in the abbreviated 2020 campaign with four of the eight going for extra bases. Alsobrooks scored five runs and drove in five last season as well. She started 52 games in 2019 and is a career .254 hitter with 30 RBIs and 32 runs scored in 99 games.
Barjaktarovich has started at shortstop in all 72 of Lehigh's games over the last two seasons. Last year she led the Mountain Hawks with a .352 average in 17 games with a team-best 19 hits and two stolen bases. Barjaktarovich hit .307 in 55 games as a freshman in 2019 with 50 hits, 21 runs scored, 18 RBIs and 13 steals.
O'Rourke is a versatile player who made starts at third base and all three outfield positions last season and is expected to be in the mix at second base in 2021. She went 7-for-28 at the plate last season with a pair of doubles and five runs scored. O'Rourke appeared in 49 games as a freshman, registering 15 hits, 13 runs scored and five RBIs. She has started games at five different positions in her Lehigh career.
The Mountain Hawks are scheduled to open the 2021 season on Sunday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Sacred Heart for a doubleheader with game one set to begin at 11 a.m.
Like Lehigh Softball on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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